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BigBlue SolarPowa 100 ETFE Review

It costs less than the competition but still charges like the best
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BigBlue SolarPowa 100 ETFE Review (The SolarPowa didn't perform as well in indirect solar charging as it did in direct sunlight.)
The SolarPowa didn't perform as well in indirect solar charging as it did in direct sunlight.
Credit: Sam Schild
Price:  $200 List
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Manufacturer:   BigBlue
By Sam Schild ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 19, 2023
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#5 of 13
  • Direct Solar Charging Speed - 35% 8.5
  • Indirect Solar Charging Speed - 35% 7.0
  • Portability - 15% 8.0
  • Functionality - 15% 7.0

Our Verdict

The BigBlue SolarPowa 100 ETFE is the best value for a large solar panel for your camping setup. This panel is less expensive than every high-performing panel we tested but charges as efficiently as the most powerful 100-watt panels we've seen. This panel is very portable. It's feather-light and has a simple carry handle, so hauling it to camp is a breeze. It folds once to pack, and the single-fold setup means you'll have your solar charging station generating power in no time. It comes with the most adaptors of any other solar panel as well, letting you easily attach it to your power station regardless of the type of input. If you're looking for a great value on a lightweight, portable panel that puts out a fair bit of power, look no further. Take a look at our solar panel for camping review to see how the BigBlue ranked next to the competition.
REASONS TO BUY
Less expensive
Charges quickly
Simple to use
Low weight
Readily portable
REASONS TO AVOID
No place to store cables

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Value Solar Panel For Camping
Top Pick Award
A Seriously Portable 100-watt Panel
Best Buy Award
Best Solar Panel For Extremely Tight Budgets
  
Price $200 List
$189.99 at Amazon
$229 List
$193.99 at Amazon
$130 List
$119.99 at Amazon
$200 List
$189.99 at Amazon
$110 List
$98.98 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
77
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39
Star Rating
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Bottom Line An inexpensive panel that outperforms its price and is a great value overallThis large panel folds into a very small size and works well at converting sunlight to energy as wellThis 110-watt panel is crazy lightweight, very thin, and costs less than half as much as many panels we testedThis panel is easily transportable and simple to use, but doesn't put up a great charging performanceIt's cheap and light and will get the job done, but not quickly or as efficiently as most others
Rating Categories BigBlue SolarPowa 1... Allpowers SPo12 100... Dokio 110W 18V Port... Grecell 100W Portable Topsolar 100W Foldable
Direct Solar Charging Speed (35%)
8.5
6.5
6.0
7.5
2.0
Indirect Solar Charging Speed (35%)
7.0
8.0
6.5
7.5
3.0
Portability (15%)
8.0
10.0
10.0
6.0
7.0
Functionality (15%)
7.0
5.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
Specs BigBlue SolarPowa 1... Allpowers SPo12 100... Dokio 110W 18V Port... Grecell 100W Portable Topsolar 100W Foldable
Power Output Rating (Watts) 100 W 100 W 110 W 100 W 100 W
Energy Generated in 1 Hour of Direct Sun 66.7 Wh 59.2 Wh 57.6 Wh 60.3 Wh 29.2 Wh
Energy Generated in 1 Hour Indirect Sun 21.6 Wh 25.6 Wh 20.8 Wh 22.4 Wh 13.6 Wh
Measured Output in Direct Sun (Watts) 64W 63 W 55 W 60 W 20 W
Measured Output in Direct Sun (Volts) 21.4 V 21.7 V 19.5 V 21.3 V 18.3 V
Measured Output in Indirect Sun (Watts) 26 W 20 W 16 W 21 W 12 W
# of USB A Outlets 0 2 2 0 2
# of USB C Outlets 0 1 0 0 1
Max USB Output Current (Amps per Port) N/A 2.4 amps 2 amps N/A 5 amps
Weight (Measured) 8.8 lb 6.1 lb 5.1 lb 9.9 lb 5.1 lb
Size Folded 25 x 21 x 0.5 in 12.5 x 7.5 x 3.5 in 26 x 19 x 0.5 in 25.25 x 21.25 x 0.5 in 22.25 x 21.5 x 0.5 in
Size Opened 42 x 25 x 0.25 in 36.8 x 36 x 0.25 in 38 x 26 x 0.25 in 50.5 x 21.15 x 0.25 in 43 x 22.25 x 0.25 in
Battery Included No No No No No
Tablet Charging No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Laptop Charging No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Charge iPhone/Smartphone No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Panel Outside Material Canvas Canvas Canvas Canvas Canvas
Panel Type Monocrystalline silicon Monocrystalline silicon Monocrystalline silicon Monocrystalline silicon Monocrystalline silicon
Able to Daisy Chain Yes No No Yes Yes
12-Volt Connection Yes Yes No Yes Yes
DC Output Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

The BigBlue SolarPowa 100 ETFE is the best value for a 100-watt solar panel we tested. It charges devices nearly as fast as the highest-performing, more expensive panels. This panel keeps putting out power in full sun and on overcast days. It's simply designed, incredibly lightweight, and very user-friendly. Setting up this model takes only a few seconds, and it can be stored away just as quickly. This solar panel is perfect for camping or off-grid living and is one of the best deals we've found, so it's an excellent value.

Performance Comparison


bigblue solarpowa 100 etfe - the solarpowa put out a consist amount of high watts in direct sun.
The SolarPowa put out a consist amount of high watts in direct sun.
Credit: Sam Schild

Direct Solar Charging Speed


The most important aspect of a solar panel is how efficiently it charges your devices in direct sunlight. The SolarPowa 100 ETFE performs this task quite well. During direct solar charging testing, it charged its Jackery Explorer 240 test battery at impressive speeds.


The SolarPowa 100 ETFE performed almost as well as the fastest charging panels in all direct solar charging tests. During all direct sunlight charging tests, we found that the monocrystalline silicon solar cells effectively converted sunlight into power. The SolarPowa 100 didn't put out the most charge, but it performed better than we expected, considering its low price.

The SolarPowa 100 is fast and efficient in direct sunlight.
Credit: Sam Schild

The SolarPowa 100 ETFE panel is a highly efficient 100-watt panel that does well at turning solar energy into electrical energy. We tested every panel simultaneously to avoid atmospheric variables. On a sunny day at 5,000 feet in Colorado, the SolarPowa 100 ETFE generated 49.9 Wh in one hour on its 240-watt-hour battery. This is faster than most panels and nearly twice as fast as other similarly-priced panels.

We monitored the watt output during direct solar testing as well. While SolarPowa 100 ETFE's output fluctuated more than some panels, it was more consistent than others. At peak sun, this panel generated 50 watts of power. This is better than many 100-watt panels but is not the highest output. It's still very efficient in direct solar charging, even if it's not the most efficient overall.

bigblue solarpowa 100 etfe - the solarpowa 100 etfe is a great overall value for a 100-watt solar...
The SolarPowa 100 ETFE is a great overall value for a 100-watt solar panel.
Credit: Sam Schild

Indirect Solar Charging Speed


Most large panels for a solar camping setup do well in sunny conditions. But it's not always sunny all day. In our indirect solar charging speed test, the SolarPowa 100 ETFE did well in simulated cloudy conditions. It generated more charge in its test battery than the lower-performing panels but not quite as efficiently as the best in this test.


To perform this test, we used several white sheets to create similar conditions to a cloudy day. We tested all these high-capacity panels side-by-side under a sheet, measuring the amount of charge they generated in one hour when hooked up to identical 240-watt-hour batteries. Every panel in our testing showed a significant drop in watt output during this “cloudy day” simulation. The SolarPowa 100 ETFE generated 14.4 watt-hours in one hour. This isn't the most watt-hours generated, but it's not the least either.

bigblue solarpowa 100 etfe - the solarpowa didn't perform as well in indirect solar charging as...
The SolarPowa didn't perform as well in indirect solar charging as it did in direct sunlight.
Credit: Sam Schild

The SolarPowa 100 ETFE saw less of an increase in charging time than most of the models we tested. In the indirect charging speed test, some panels took over 100 minutes longer to charge than this one. It took longer than it did under direct sunlight but still charged its test battery faster than nearly all the other solar panels in this review.

bigblue solarpowa 100 etfe - catching that early morning sunlight with the solarpowa 100.
Catching that early morning sunlight with the SolarPowa 100.
Credit: Sam Schild

Portability


The SolarPowa 100 ETFE is one of the lightest large solar panels we tested. It weighs 8.8 pounds and folds to half an inch thick. This is one of the easiest panels to carry. It easily packs into your trunk or slides behind the driver's seat in your car. It has an integrated handle for easy transportation to your solar power setup location at camp.


The SolarPowa 100 ETFE folds in half, so it could, in theory, pack down smaller. But since it only folds once, it's incredibly thin. And since it only folds once, you can pack this model up faster than many panels that fold 2, 3, or 4 times. It sets up as quickly as it breaks down for this reason.

bigblue solarpowa 100 etfe - the solarpowa 100 is one of the lightest panels we tested.
The SolarPowa 100 is one of the lightest panels we tested.
Credit: sam schild

It doesn't have a place to store the charging cable, however. We tried to wrap the cord around the panel or between the folded halves for transportation. But most of the time, this cable dangled off the panel again as we carried it. This could lead to a damaged or lost cable eventually.

bigblue solarpowa 100 etfe - the solarpowa doesn't have a place to store the charging cables, so...
The SolarPowa doesn't have a place to store the charging cables, so it annoyingly hangs off the panel as you carry it.
Credit: Sam Schild

Functionality


The SolarPowa 100 ETFE is a relatively functional solar panel overall. It only has one output, so you can only charge one device at a time with this. But it comes with a ton of different charging cable adaptors, so you can be sure you can hook this panel up to any power station, no matter what the input connection looks like.


The SolarPowa 100 ETFE has fold-out kickstand legs to point the panel at the sun during late afternoons and to catch the morning light. You can change the angle of the legs to track the sun's angle all da. They fold down and snap in place on the back of the panel when you don't need them, too. These legs don't feel the most secure, but the two-panel design means there's a leg for each panel, which is more than the case with three and four-panel designs.

bigblue solarpowa 100 etfe - the solarpowa 100 sets up very quickly and packs away just as fast.
The SolarPowa 100 sets up very quickly and packs away just as fast.
Credit: Sam Schild

Should You Buy the BigBlue SolarPowa 100 ETFE?


Of the 100-watt panels we tested, the SolarPowa 100 ETFE is a great value. It performs as well or better in most metrics we tested and is one of the least expensive panels overall. It charges a power station quickly in direct sunlight and is efficient enough in cloudy conditions. It's convenient to use and extremely light. It's also one of the simplest panels to set up. The SolarPowa 100 ETFE is an excellent option for any solar camping setup, especially those on a budget.

bigblue solarpowa 100 etfe - the solarpowa is a great value for a 100-watt panel.
The SolarPowa is a great value for a 100-watt panel.
Credit: Sam Schild

What Other Solar Camping Panels Should You Consider?


If you're looking for a solar camping panel that charges even faster and is just as portable, check out the Jackery SolarSaga 100. If you're looking for the most user-friendly features in a highly portable 100-watt solar panel, we recommend the BioLite Solar Panel 100. If you're looking for a higher-watt panel with all-weather durability, check out the EcoFlow 110. If you want an even smaller, more portable solar panel, check out our portable solar charger review.

Sam Schild